WEBVTT ALOPECIA.VANESSA: ALL HAIRSTYLES ARE NOTCREATED EQUALLY ACCORDING TODR. CRYSTAL AGUH.>> IT IS VERY COMMON CAUSE OFHAIR LOSS.IT IS DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITHTHE TYPE OF HAIRSTYLES THATPEOPLE ARE WEARING.VANESSA WE'RE TALKING ABOUT: BRAIDS, DREADLOCKS AND WEAVES.STYLES THE DERMATOLOGIST CALLSHIGH RISK, ESPECIALLY ONCHEMCIALLY TREATED HAI>> HAIRSTYLES THAT PULL AT THEEDGES OF THE SCALP ARE GOING TOLEAD TO TRACTION ALOPECIA.YOU SEE IT AROUND THE CROWN AREA.OCCASIONALLY AROUND THE BACK OFTHE SCALP AS WELL.VANESSA: CAUGHT EARLY, IT CAN BEREVERSED, BUT IN SOME CASES, THEHAIR LOSS IS PERMANENT.>> WE KNOW FROM VARIOUS STUDIESTHAT HAIR LOSS OF ALL TYPES HASA VERY SIGNIFICANT PSYCHOLOGICALIMPACT ON MEN AND WOMEN.>> HERE IS REALLY IMPORTANT TOTHE WOMEN.ONCE YOU START TO LOSE IT YOUFEEL LIKE YOU ARE LOSING A BITOF YOURSELF.THVANESSA GROWING UP WITH A: SINGLE FATHER, MARQUIA PARNELLWORE A LOT OF BRAIDS.SHE STARTED LOSING HER HAIR INTHE SIXTH GRADE, AND THINKS THESTYLE COULD BE RESPONSIBLE>> I WOULD LOVE TO ROCK A BUNONE DAY.I CAN'T BRING MYSELF TO DO ITAROUND MY PEERS.VANESSA STEVEN THOMAS HELPS: PARNELL, AND OTHER WOMEN, COPEWITH THE EFFECTS OF HAIR LOSS.>> I TAKE M RESPONSIBILITY VERYSERIOUSLY.I LIKE TO EDUCATE MY CLIENT ASWELL AS SERVICING THEM.VANESSA KNOWN AS THE HAIR DOC,: WITH MORE THAN 50,000FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM, THOMASOFTEN SHOWCASES STUNNINGTRANSFORMATIONS.GAYLE HARRIS HAS BEEN FEATUREDON HIS PAGE.>> PEOPLE DO NOT REALLY KNOWWHAT YOU GO THROUGH TO HAVE SOMEHAIR ON YOUR HEAD.>> IT IS THE BEFORE AND AFTERTHAT I LOVE.BECAUSE IT GIVES THEM THATCONFIDENCE.JUST BUY A WEEK THAT I MAKE.VANESSA: PARNELL IS A FIRST TIMECLIENT.>> I AM JUST REALLY EXCITED TOSEE THE OUTCOME.THVANESSA WITH THE LACE: FRONT WIG INSTALLED, A LITTLECUTTING, STYLINGAND IT'S TIME TO REVEALPARENLL'S NEW LOOK.WIGS ARE TEMPORARY, BUTPARNELL'S ATTITUDE TOWARD HAIRLOSS IS PERMANENT.>> IT'S JUST HAIR, I'VE LEARNEDTO COME TO TERMS WITH THAT, IT'SJUST HAIR, HAIR DOESN'T MAKE APERSON SO YOU JUST HAVE TOBELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND BE

Popular styles among black women may cause something called traction alopecia. All hairstyles are not created equally, according to Dr. Crystal Aguh.

"Traction alopecia it's a very common cause of hair loss and it's directly associated with the type of hairstyles that people are wearing," Aguh said.

Aguh said braids, dreadlocks and weaves are high-risk, especially on chemically treated hair.

"Hairstyles that pull at the edges of the scalp are going to lead to traction alopecia so you really only see it around the crown area and occasionally around the back of the scalp as well," Aguh said.

If it's caught early it can be reversed, but in some cases the hair loss is permanent.

"We know from various studies that hair loss of all types has a very significant psychological impact on men and women," Aguh said.

Marquia Parnell has alopecia.

"Hair is really important to a woman, and once you start to lose it, you feel like you're losing a bit of yourself," Parnell said.

Growing up with a single father, Parnell wore a lot of braids. She started losing her hair in the sixth grade, and thinks the style could be responsible.

"I would love to just rock a bun one day, but I can't bring myself to do it around my peers," Parnell said.

Steven Thomas helps Parnell, and other women cope with the effects of hair loss.

"I take my responsibility very serious. I like to educate my clients as well as servicing them," Thomas said.

Thomas is known as the @thehairdoc on Instagram, where he has more than 55,000 followers. Thomas often showcases stunning transformations.

Gayle Harris has been featured on his page.

"People don't really know what you go through to have some hair on your head," Harris said.

"It's the before and after that I love because it really, really, really gives them that confidence just by a wig that I made," Thomas said.

Parnell is a first-time client.

"I'm just really, really excited to see the outcome," Parnell said.

With the lace front wig installed and a little cutting and styling it was time to reveal Parnell's new look.

"I'm in love," Parnell said. "It's just hair. I've learned to come to terms with that. It's just hair. Hair doesn't make a person, so you just have to believe in yourself and be confident in yourself."